Tonight’s fight between Daniel Geale and Garth Wood is live from the Hordern Pavilion in Sydney and we’ll bring you all the round-by-round action including full undercard from 7:30pm AEDT tonight.
It’s boxing’s old story: risk vs reward. Geale is coming off just his second career defeat, having lost his IBF Middleweight Title in August last year to Darren Barker.
Barker subsequently lost the title in his first defence to a man Geale vanquished, Felix Sturm, ensuring promoters are now angling to set up Geale-Sturm 2.
It’s not the only fight on Geale’s radar, having been offered Gennady Golovkin, which would have been held instead of tonight’s fight with Wood.
Geale passed on the fight with Golovkin, who is arguably the most dangerous fighter in boxing at the moment. The reason? Risk v reward.
One search of YouTube is all it takes to show that Golovkin is considerable risk and with Main Event TV having scheduled a UFC pay per view for the date of the proposed fight, it meant no Australian pay per view revenue for Geale, and also meant high risk vs little reward.
Instead Geale has taken on the challenge of Garth Wood, a fight that should prove popular with the public given Wood’s love of a scrap and many consider Geale in a different class to him, therefore low risk-high reward.
However Anthony Mundine thought the same thing in 2010 when he was knocked unconscious by the Contender Australia winner.
Wood does not possess the skills of Geale, but he is willing and has a huge heart. He will always have a punchers chance, but he has achieved a lot for someone who has only had 16 professional fights.
Wood is improving with every fight and on viewing the pre-fight weigh in yesterday looked in supreme condition. Geale on the other hand looked like he had experienced a difficult weight cut and needed two attempts at making the middleweight limit.
He lacked explosiveness in the final round against Barker and it cost him his World Title. Will lightning strike twice against Wood?
Wood on the other hand continues to chase his ultimate dream of becoming a World Champion. Some may scoff at that suggestion, but the scalp of Geale may just land him the shot.
Geale on the other hand needs an impressive performance to get back in the World title picture. A win over Wood should see prospective fights with Sturm and Golovkin back on the agenda, but a loss could be catastrophic.
Wood is a traditional spoiler who can take the best fighter and drag him into a street fight, which I expect will be the game plan against the silky skills of Geale.
It’s a fascinating night of Aussie boxing and as we all know, anything can happen.
Also on the card is the professional debut of Paul Gallen, who looks to make his mark on the scene after some impressive charity fights in recent years. We also see Lauryn Eagle in the undercard.
Join me from 7:30pm for all the action, let’s get ready to rumble!
Aaron
Guest
Geale vs Golovkin? R.I.P. Daniel
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
Thanks everyone for your company. Another good night of fights. Geale and Gallen the big winners tonight, see you next time!!
Michael
Guest
Didn't the three knockdown rule apply?
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
Geale says Golovkin will be his next fight if they can make it happen. That's good news for Aussie boxing fans. Wood says he has to shake Geale's hand, great workrate, angles, says he'll continue to take on anyone. Doesn't really answer questions of his future.
Aaron
Guest
Good rbr. Thanks mate!
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
Wood's corner stops the fight. He's taken too much punishment and is probably the correct decision given some of the shots he's taken tonight. GEALE win by Rd 7 stoppage! Looked good and some big fights ahead of Daniel Geale.
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
ROUND 6 - Wood is tough. He continues to fight. Big heart, not in the same class as Geale though. Geale continues to work away and find the chin of Garth easily. Wood pinned up against the ropes and Geale scores well to the body and upstairs also. To his credit Wood fights back but he's in trouble yet again. Wood is somehow hanging in there and he gets thrown to the canvas, which the referee calls it a knockdown. Bit harsh, wasn't a scoring punch. GEALE 10-8
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
ROUND 5 - Wood goes to the canvas after getting locked in a wrestle with Geale, no knockdown obviously. Geale gets back to work straight away and continues his dominance. Geale doubles the jab. Wood lands a couple but no power on them at all. Better round for Wood again, he's starting to control the centre of the ring but isn't really scoring with any punches. Just as I say it Wood gets stung with a nice right hand and Wood goes down again. Wood is up at 7. Fight continues and Geale wants to get out of here, bell sounds and they continue punching after the bell! Wood is in big trouble! GEALE 10-8
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
ROUND 4 - Wood is doing well to stay in this fight. You sense he's only a couple of good shots from being put away. Wood starting better this round, getting some nice body work in. Wood goes a bit low himself, called accidental. Wood firing out his jab which is preventing Geale from just firing away with ease like he has done previously. Geale going to the body again. Much better round for Wood but still a Geale round. GEALE 10-9
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
ROUND 3 - Into Round 3 we go. Geale is just scoring at will against Wood. Wood scores a nice jab and Geale laughs and scores a couple of nice shots in return. Geale again doing some nice work to the body. Wood is really playing into the hands of Geale as he continues to come forward and stand right in front of Geale. Geale doesn't have to go too far to find him. GEALE 10-9
Squidward
Roar Rookie
G-TRAIN!!!
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
ROUND 2 - Geale landed about 5-6 big shots at end of last round, would take some time to find your legs again. Geale starts where he left off in the last round with Wood in trouble again. Geale with some nice shots again, looks like Geale wants an early night in this one. Wood landing only 1-2 shots at a time, Geale throwing some lovely combinations. Geale backs up Wood once more. Wood claims a low blow and takes some time to get back to his feet. Geale lands a great hook that rattles Wood. Wood keeping Geale honest with his jab. Wood goes down and takes a knee, Wood claims a low blow and referee agrees. Referee takes a point from Geale. Wood has five minutes to recover after a low blow and he seems to be taking all of it. Back on, and end of the second round. WOOD 9 - GEALE 9
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
Wood reluctant to touch gloves beforehand. Here we go! ROUND 1 - Tentative start, Wood firing out a couple of jabs. Geale goes searching for Wood early. Geale lands some shots early. Wood on the backfoot. Both men get a warning for a bit of rought stuff on the inside. Wood gets a nice right hand through the Geale defence and Geale answers back with a couple of nice shots. Geale has Wood with a big rip to the body and Wood goes down in the corner. Wood takes a knee, take a long time to get up and does so at the count of 9. Wood in big trouble and only the bell saves him from getting stopped as Geale is on the attack again as bell sounds. GEALE 10-8
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
Daniel Geale now in centre ring. Geale should take this fight, but Wood is a spoiler and can really make it hard. Huge heart, unlikely but don't count him out.
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
Garth Wood first man into the ring, looks in great shape. Has left no stone unturned into his training. Badly wants a World Title shot.
Bolts
Guest
Thanks for doing this Adam
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
Next up Main Event! Geale v Wood
Adam Santarossa
Roar Guru
ROUND 2 - Gallen comes out firing and again looking to slowing the big Purcell up. Only going four rounds so he needs to get going here. Purcell with a lovely rip to the body which slows up Gallen a little and Gallen comes back and fires in some body shots of his own. Gallen scores a lovely uppercut and is now teeing off as Purcell fires back. Gallen jabbing, doubling the jab and Gallen hits an absolute ripping uppercut which Purcell eats it and comes forward! Wow, Gallen is landing some bombs. Nice short hook from Gallen. Gallen raining down shots, six or seven unanswered and the referee is in and calls it off. GALLEN by TKO! What a round.
Gnome
Guest
It's really easy to lose your mind in your first proper fight - I hope Gallen finds his head and fights like he would have practiced.
The Grafter
Guest
Fights for the same gym as Michael Katsidis, so I would expect some of Brendon Smiths polish on him.